Scribner, 2019. ISBN: 9781471185861.
(Age: 15 to Adult) Highly recommended. Set over the course of a
year, each of the twelve chapters examines a month in the lives of
different women and their families, all intricately connected by the
disappearance of two young girls. This remarkable book takes place
on Kamchatka, a remote peninsular in far-Eastern Russia, and is rich
with descriptions of the volcanic landscape and tundra with their
herds of reindeer. We are given an insight into lives filled with
loss and longing, of ethnic tensions and traditional Russian values
trying to find a place in the modern world.
While the mystery of the girls' disappearance begins the book and
the investigation is interwoven throughout, this actually reads more
like a series of short stories, with each focusing on a different
woman who has been somehow affected by the event including family
members, a witness, and a detective. There are many characters, and
it is easy to get them mixed up, but thankfully the author has
provided a list of primary characters at the start of the book. This
book was not at all what I expected it to be, it is so much more.
Donella Reed
Roald Dahl's colours illustrated by Quentin Blake
Penguin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780241370315.
(Age: 1-5) Highly recommended. Board book. Themes: Colours. Another
stunning board book featuring the captivating illustrations by
Quentin Blake from Roald Dahl's stories for older children. These
will make the book familiar to adults reading it aloud, and will be
a fabulous introduction to the world of Roald Dahl for children.
Each of the double page spreads features a coloured background for
the colours chosen, pink, red, green, blue, purple, orange, grey and
yellow. For example, pink for 'I see plenty of peculiar porky pink
pigs' has hilarious pictures of pigs against a beautiful pink
background. Of course the famous 'green enomous crocodile hungry for
his lunch' features against a lovely lime green background. Only one
of the little people racing away from the snapping crocodile has a
green shirt and this will be a fun way for the adult to show that
there are different shades of green. This is also true of the dark
orange coloured fox against an vivid orange background. It was
interesting to see the colour grey featured and many children will
identify with the idea of a grey suit or grey trousers.
The description of each items associated with the colour is in a
bold black print which makes it easy to remember and there is a
special touch at the end with a gorgeous lift the flap featuring 'a
yellow giraffe with a neck that goes up . . . up . . . up!' Its
construction is also very sturdy with hard boards for heavy use.
This is a fun introduction to colours for children and is sure to
become a favourite.
Pat Pledger
Rabbit's hop by Alex Rance
Illus. by Shane McG. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760524449.
(Age: 3-8) Recommended. Themes: Friendship, Persistence,
Self-Belief. This is AFL player Alex Rance's second book and it
features a couple of the characters from his first, Tiger's
Roar. Evidently inspired by being a team sportsman, both
of his books are about being a good friend, working hard and having
fun. Jack Rabbit is the best hopper on Rabbit Island. He is also the
best carrot chomper and the almost best zigzagger. All the little
rabbits look up to him and he is a perfect role-model: 'If you work
hard, be kind, and enjoy yourselves, you will do great things'. Jack
loved his life on Rabbit Island but he feels ready for a new
challenge. One day a message in a bottle floats over to him. It's
his cousin Roo inviting him to come over to Big Island for a new
adventure. It won't be easy to get there but with the encouragement
of his friend Zigga and remembering his own advice to the little
rabbits he decides to go for it. He zig zags across the icebergs and
jumps over the waves. He stops to help a whale caught in a fishing
net and in return the whale gives him a lift to Big Island. As they
get closer Jack begins to worry, 'What if I don't like Big Island? .
. . What if I'm not good enough?', but once he arrives, he finds
Tiger and becomes excited about the adventure ahead of him. This is
wonderfully written and parents and teachers will love the healthy
social and emotional messages it contains. I particularly love the
repeated mantra (work hard, be kind, and enjoy yourself) and the use
of the word philosophy. It is so great for children to know that
they have a choice in how they see the world and the guidelines they
choose to follow in living their life and interacting with others.
It reminds little ones that being good at something is great but
being kind, working hard and having fun is much more important. Jack
Rabbit is a great role-model; he is talented but he isn't conceited
or boastful. He worries and has self-doubt just like everyone, he
supports his friends and he is kind to all those around him. The
illustrations are bright, crisp and spot on. This is perfect for
fans of Tiger's Roar, little sportspeople and all children
who aspire to new adventures.
Nicole Nelson
A good girl's guide to murder by Holly Jackson
Electric Monkey, 2019. ISBN: 9781405293181.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Themes: Mystery, Thriller, Murder,
Diversity, Friendship. What a compelling mystery - one that was
almost impossible to put down! Pippa Fitz-Ambobi decides to
investigate the murder of schoolgirl Andie Bell as her final year
research project. Even though the police had closed the case, based
on evidence that her boyfriend Sal Singh had murdered her, Pippa has
always had doubts and sets about interviewing suspects and family
members in an effort to see if she can find evidence to prove his
innocence.
In a tightly packed narrative, consisting of entries into her
Extended Project report and narrative about what is happening every
day, Pippa delves into the secrets of her small town and uncovers
some shocking truths about the people that she thought she knew
well. Highly organised and intelligent, Pippa, with the aid of Sal's
brother Ravi, goes about the investigation in a systematic way that
allows the reader to follow the clues and try and work out who did
the murder, or if there was a murder. At the same time Pippa's
humour helps to lighten the darkness of some of the evidence and
there are some very sad moments as well.
There are lots of plot twists that will keep even seasoned mystery
readers trying to unravel the truth, and both Pippa and Ravi are
people that the reader would like to know. Pippa's view of people
begins to change as she finds out things from the past and she is
uncertain of who she can trust. And if Sal didn't murder Andie, how
dangerous is her investigation?
This is a terrific thriller that will keep the reader on the edge,
very unwilling to put it down until the case is unravelled. People
who enjoyed One
of us is lying by Karen McManus and There's
someone inside your house by Stephanie Perkins will be
sure to enjoy this as well, and I am really looking forward to more
stories by Holly Jackson.
Pat Pledger
Lunchbox express by George Georgievski
Plum, 2019. ISBN: 9781760784904.
(Age: 9 - Adult) Recommended. The cover promises 'healthy kids'
lunches in 5 minutes' and the book delivers 30 days of kids'
lunchboxes, beautifully illustrated with full page pictures of the
featured lunches. There is something here for even the most
fastidious eater, including some bonus adult lunchboxes that will
prove to be really useful as well as recipes for International
Fridays.
Right from the helpful Contents page, the reader is guided through
this useful book starting with tools of the trade that will be
needed to make the lunches visually appealing, including a melon
baller and a ravioli cutter to make shapes, as well as other more
common tools like a chef's knife and veggie peeler. The $50 shopping
list covers 2 children's lunches for one week and ensures that all
the necessary ingredients are available for the lunches. Using
photos of the Bento-style lunchboxes to contain the food the author
has shown what delicious lunches can be made in just 5 minutes.
There is also a section of easy to follow recipes for things like
breakfast muffins and vegetable doughnuts and a handy index finishes
off a worthwhile book.
The colourful illustrations make this a stand-out recipe book that
is sure to inspire people to make truly mouth-watering lunches.
Pat Pledger
Secrets of a schoolyard millionaire by Nat Amoore
Penguin, 2019, ISBN: 9780143796374.
(Age: 8-12) Themes: Wealth, Millionaires, Money, Humour. What would
you do if you found a million dollars? Would you help your family,
your friends and classmates? Ten-year-old Tess Heckleston is the
middle child in a rather chaotic family, her dad calls their place
the Heckleston Hothouse. Tess is an entrepreneur; she's always
planning her next business venture accompanied by her best friend
Toby. Her small bedroom at the top of the house overlooks their
dodgy neighbour Scotty's place and Tess often observes the strange
people visiting him. Imagine her surprise when Scotty hides a large
bag in her backyard treasure chest, just before the police arrest
him!
Tess's choices from this moment on, take us on a wild and crazy
ride, with loads of fun and creative adventures. Toby provides a
voice of reason; he tries to be her moral compass, questioning her
decisions. They need to be careful, to not arouse suspicions as she
tries to help others with this windfall. When her younger sister is
hospitalised with complications from her diabetes, Tess and Toby
decide to spread a little love to the other children in the ward.
Donating money is hard, and adults become very suspicious about kids
with a large handful of notes.
Tess transforms Kathy the homeless woman who lives in the park,
changing her into a look-alike of her mum and they fool the bank
setting up an account, depositing the money and begin to share the
wealth. Tess organises a home in the park for Kath, hundreds of kids
buy Lego sets and build her a haven. Toby's two mums own a print
shop and he's a whiz at Photoshop, creating flyers for their schemes
and something extra special to help with the final events. Things
come to a screeching halt when Tess finds her mum has disappeared,
she's locked in the basement of the theatre where she works. Scotty
is out on bail and on the hunt for his money. How will Tess and Toby
right the wrongs and discover what is important in their lives?
Author Nat Amoore's Secrets of a schoolyard millionaire is
written in a humorous, fast-paced style, includes loads of movie
references, fun asides and tips for budding entrepreneurs - think
puppies. An exciting read-aloud for middle primary classes, opening
conversations about Tess and her decisions. Students can open
dialogue about the protagonist's rights, responsibilities and
ethics.
Rhyllis Bignell
Up to something by Katrina McKelvey
Illus. by Kirrili Lonergan. EK Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781925335705.
32pp., hbk.
A sign on the door of the hardware store catches Billy's eye - it's
for a great billycart race! It doesn't matter that Billy doesn't
have a billycart because he has heard his Dad banging, drilling and
sawing in his shed so many times that he is excited about what they
could build together. He is even more excited when his Dad agrees
and they begin work together. But excitement turns to disappointment
when his dad appoints him as his 'special helper' fetching and
carrying the tools and materials, rather than using them. And even
though he gets promoted to 'assistant' because it sounds more
important, the duties don't change and Billy is soon bored with
menial tasks like the sweeping his dad gets him to do. He had dreams of
them working side by side, building something magnificent. But as he
sweeps he has an idea and while Dad is busy measuring and sawing,
Billy is doing the same . . .
Billy's story is that of so many youngsters - wanting to get in and
be like their dads but being assigned to the sidelines - that it
will resonate with young readers who are more interested in making
and doing than watching. Lonergan's gentle illustrations that are so
rich in detail echo the relationship between Billy and his dad
offering a story that could be a lesson for dads about not
underestimating the talents and skills of their offspring.
From a STEM perspective there is plenty of scope to explore creating
plans for billycarts, but if readers look carefully at the elements
of Billy's cart they might be encouraged to look at everyday objects
differently. What else could a laundry basket or an old pair of
roller skates become? Lots of scope for creative thinking embedded
in a story that is just a joy to read in itself.
Barbara Braxton
A grain of hope by Nicola Philp
Illus. by Aldy Aguirre. Publishink Press, 2019. ISBN: 9780648348641.
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Themes: Refugees, Dogs, War, Abuse. Picking
up a small publisher's book is always fraught for a reviewer.
Sourcing that book can be difficult for a librarian with limited
time so other considerations necessarily inform the review. But this
one is worth seeking out.
The story presented in A grain of hope is told in a
different way, its illustrations arresting and the whole evokes a
poignancy unable to be shaken off.
On each side of the double page a story is told. On the left hand
page (verso) is the tale of a dog, Dok, while the right hand page
(recto) shows the tale of a child, Hanan. Each page reflects the
changes in the lives of Hanan and the puppy. After a warm comforting
childhood for both, Dok must learn a new house, away from its
mother, while Hanan is aware that her family is troubled.
As time passes, Dok tries to avoid the pain inflicted upon her,
while Hanan learns of the deaths of some of her family.
Their stories come together as a van arrives for them both: Dok is
taken to an animal rescue facility, while Hanan and her family try
to escape the war around them.
The abuse of the dog on the verso is contrasted with the increasing
touches of war on the recto.
After this the comparison between Dok and Hanan is even more
confronting. The dog is treated well, staying in its cage until a
kind generous family comes and adopts her. While on the recto, Hanan
is being transferred from one boat to another in the arms of her
mother, until they are put behind bars in a detention facility with
no idea of what is happening or where they will go.
The situation for Dok and Hanan are now reversed.
Readers will understand the message of the book without prompting:
that we treat our refugees less than dogs. Both Hanan and Dok have
similar stories until the end, when one is taken into the heart of
the family, and the other relegated to life in detention.
Our obligation to take refugees into our country has been relegated
to a political act by our governments, unwilling to compromise. This
situation is presented in many books published recently (Room on
our rock, Mediterranean, Boy at the back of the
class, Wisp, Waves, Displaced etc)
telling of the refugee impasse in Australia and A grain of hope
fits well with these to encourage readers to look outside their own
safe home and welcome those who do not have one.
Just as the story is different, so too are the illustrations. This
artist from the Phillipines uses a wash of water colour to give his
drawings an extra sadness. They have an ethereal quality, some
almost lost on the page, which makes them memorable and underlines
the pathos of Hunan's dreadful situation.
Readers will instantly empathise with Hanan's situation, being
handed over the side of a ship, found by a Navy patrol boat and then
relegated to a position behind bars, her misery plain for all to
see.
Fran Knight
A nearly normal family by M. T. Edvardsson
Macmillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781529008135.
(Age: senior secondary to adult) Recommended. Themes: Sweden, Crime,
Family. The Sandell family seems to have it all. Adam is a pastor in
the Church of Sweden, Ulrika is a successful lawyer and their
daughter Stella is a vibrant student and athlete. There have been
the usual ups and downs, as there are with families, but they are
looked on by other residents in the small provincial city of Lund as
a model of success.
Things take a lurch into the unexpected and unknown when Stella is
taken into custody for the murder of Christopher Olsen. The story
unfolds from the points of view of Adam, Ulrika and Stella and gives
very different insight into each individual and the dynamics of this
'ideal' family.
Adam's recount is the first, and as a reader, I found this man hard
to empathise with. His interference with the case and distrust of
the lawyer defending Stella began to annoy me so much I almost gave
up on the book. It was Stella's account that turned things round.
Her character formed by the narrative of her father gave the
impression of a selfish, spoiled teenager full of angst and
rebellion. As her side of the story is slowly and at times
reluctantly revealed an empathy is developed. Her strong friendship
with Amina is at the centre of the web of emotion and loyalty which
Edvardsson brings to life.
Stella who is 18 at the time of the murder has been involved with
Christopher Olsen an older man at 32. Chris is a wealthy, successful
businessman the son of a professor of law at the local university.
There is some uneasiness about his treatment of women when it is
discovered a former girl friend, Linda Lokind, has made a complaint
to the police about Olsen. The investigation came to nothing and its
Linda's reputation and state of mind which has come into question.
The final voice is that of Stella's mother Ulrika. It is the
shortest narrative but one which gives the greatest insight and
perhaps shows the greatest understanding of Stella and of Amina.
The Sandell family was not the one any of its members wanted. Adam
wanted a perfect image projected to his congregation as a reflection
of his role as loving father and husband. He is a controller and in
the end not open with Stella or Ulrika. Stella is a complex
character and she feels guilty about her behaviour and reactions to
her parents but is unable to express them. She has many secrets she
keeps from her family and even some from Amina. Ulrika feels guilt
being the working mother working away from her family so often, but
also feeling excluded from the bond which Adam and Stella formed as
a baby and into her childhood. She too has secrets.
This novel was involving not least from the dynamics of the family,
but also the community in which they live. The Swedish police and
judicial system is an interesting contrast to the US or British with
which we are far more familiar. Edvardsson's resolution is not
entirely unexpected, but the master mind behind it all is more of a
surprise.
Mark Knight
How to build the perfect cubby house by Heath McKenzie
Scholastic Australia, 2019. ISBN: 9781760152673.
(Age: 4-8) Recommended. Themes: Families, Cubby Houses, Diversity.
Heath McKenzie (illustrator of Andy Lee's Do Not Open This Book
series and author/illustrator of a whole swag of picture books) has
created this happy celebration of family and togetherness. Despite
this being a depiction of one family, it incorporates cultural
diversity in such a way that every child will see themselves and
their own family represented. The family tree in the endpapers shows
how this big, varied family fits together (with a same sex couple, a
single mother, couples of different skin colour and
cultural/religious heritage). The dedication also shows Heath's big
and intricate family tree, which obviously inspired this book. The
story is structured as an instructional 14-step plan to building the
perfect cubby house: '1. Have a plan, 2. Listen to others, 3. Allow
plans to change, etc.'. The first page shows a young child and his
dad starting work on a little cubby, and on each subsequent page a
new family member enters and gives their opinion on what else the
cubby house needs (e.g., a garage for bikes, a movie room, a secret
lair, a kitchen, a library). By the time we get to step '13.
Celebrate your hard work' the monstrous, multi-levelled cubbyhouse
is threatening to fall down under the weight of all the additions.
When it does, all that is left is the little cubby house that we
started with, but that is okay because 'the perfect cubby house only
needs to be one thing . . . a place where everyone is . . welcome'.
This is a great story that ultimately highlights the beauty of
families as places of belonging, even when everyone has their own
individual differences. The busy illustrations are fun and messy
(much like families themselves) and the use of speech bubbles means
that the story is appropriately told through the varied voices of
the family members.
Nicole Nelson
Alice-Miranda keeps the beat by Jacqueline Harvey
Alice-Miranda book 18. Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143786030.
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Themes: School life, Fund-raising,
Festivals, Mystery. Jacqueline Harvey's extremely popular Alice-Miranda
series returns for the eighteenth time in Alice- Miranda
keeps the Beat. Alice-Miranda and her friends are returning to
their school, Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young
Ladies, after enjoying a barbecue lunch with Jacinta's mother. As
they walk through the village, they see smoke rising from the
restaurant Fattoush and the apartment above. With Mr and Mrs Abboud
and their children trapped inside, Alice-Miranda and Millie run into
the blaze, searching for the children. Selflessly Alice-Miranda
rushes up to the smoke-filled attic to rescues the babies. The fire
leaves the family homeless, without anything. Alice-Miranda who's
been secretly taking music lessons, comes up with a fund-raising
music festival to help.
Back at the Academy, tension amongst the staff rises, notes
demanding work above and beyond their normal duties upset the
teachers, even Dervla who manages the stables is under extreme
pressure. With the arrival of a young new teacher with inspirational
ideas, the established staff feel threatened. Has the power of being
in charge gone to Miss Reedy's head? Of course, Caprice is up to her
usual selfish ways, she wants to headline the music festival.
Alice-Miranda and her friends rise to the challenge, with the
support of the village, their families and supporters to make The
Fields Festival a rousing success.
Jacqueline Harvey's special style of weaving mysteries and secrets
into her middle grade novels, certainly keeps the readers guessing.
Each thread is beautifully woven throughout, and we discover why
Zara Abboud was missing at the fire, the real reason Jacinta's
absent father returns and the true identity of the new teacher. All
the much-loved elements are here, pony rides, delicious food (except
for the problem scrambled eggs), community spirit, new babies and
close friendships. Combined with Alice-Miranda's sense of fair play
and supportive nature Alice Miranda Keeps the Beat makes
another delightful addition to the series.
Rhyllis Bignell
Nits! by Stephanie Blake
Gecko Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781776572243.
(Age: 4+) Themes: Nits, Classroom behaviour, Friendship, Humour. A
disarmingly simple text tells the reader of the friendship between
Simon and Lou. Simon loves Lou but she loves Mamadou. Simon is quite
upset at seeing Mamadou kiss Lou, but when Lou begins to scratch at
the nits in her hair, her friends, including Mamdou, desert her. But
not Simon. He assures Lou that her mother will fix her problem, and
kisses her. And so Simon gets nits as well.
Simply told the story shows how easy it is to get nits, and tells
readers what to expect when they get them. The story reiterates that
there is nothing to be afraid of and tells readers that their
mothers will be able to get rid of them for them.
The simple clear illustrations underline the straightforward message
contained in the book, and will appeal to the target audience of
early primary readers.
Astute teachers will use this book as an introduction to the
prevalence of nits within school communities and take the
opportunity to encourage preventative action as well as showing the
children how they can be managed.
Fran Knight
To the Moon and back by Bryan Sullivan with Jackie French
Angus and Robertson, 2019. ISBN: 9781460757741.
(Age: 12-Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Space Travel; Moon
landing; Astronomy; Space History; Science History; Technology. This
edition of To the Moon and Back has been released in
recognition of the 50th anniversary of the first landing of humans
on the moon. The book details the involvement of Australian Space
Tracking technicians in enabling the world to see the Apollo 11
astronauts take their first steps on the moon's surface. Bryan
Sullivan was one of those technical experts. In an era when the
experts involved had 'fix-it' and 'can-do' expertise (sometimes
self-taught), and computers were relatively rudimentary beasts, the
miracle of the moon landing seen through the eyes of one of the
Aussies involved is great reading. With updates that acknowledge the
involvement of women in the space industry in its early years (as an
example, reference is made to Katherine Johnson and the female
experts of the Hidden Figures movie renown); essentially
though, this is a book that gives insights into the Australian
contributions to the Space History related to the exploration of the
Moon. The book does not just describe the history, it also inspires
readers to consider Astronomy as a field of study and to view the
discoveries beyond our planet in a new light. Young and older
readers will look at the moon differently and will also be more
critical of Space History as seen in movies (note: The Dish
was a great Australian film, but it did not accurately record the
location of the Tracking station involved in conveying the images of
the Moon Landing. A reminder that movies are not necessarily
'truth'.) With Jackie French's finesse and writing skill, this book
is very easy to read and hard to put down.
This is definitely a book worth recommending to another cohort of
readers, particularly those with STEM interests.
Highly recommended for readers aged 12 - adult.
Carolyn Hull
The rest of the story by Sarah Dessen
Balzer and Bray, 2019. ISBN: 9780008334390.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: Family, Friendship,
Self-perception, Class structure, Anxiety. Sarah Dessen does it
again - The rest of the story has all her wonderful
hallmarks, beautiful writing that grabs the reader straight away, a
feel good look at a difficult family life, a swoon worthy but slow
romance and a clever view of class structure and wealth.
When Emma Saylor is sent to spend the holidays at North Lake with
her grandmother and cousins, people she hasn't seen since she was a
small child, she finds things difficult. Here she is called Saylor,
the name given to her by her dead mother, while at home she is
called Emma by her father and other family members. There are
unknown cousins to become acquainted with and Roo the boy who had
been her best friend when she was little. Roo is the key who helps
her find out about her mother and her past.
Emma is a character that the reader will immediately identify with.
It is easy to relate to her feelings when she arrives at her
grandmother's house. She has to navigate family shoals while coming
to grips with the fact that there are two communities at North Lake.
There is the working class group at North Lake, where her mother
grew up and where her grandmother runs a motel, and there is the
rich Lake North resort, where the wealthy spend their holidays.
There is Roo, the caring boy, who lives on the working class side
and the rich boys who stay at the resort. And there are all the
stories that she finds out about her mother who died when she was
ten and the side of the family that she didn't know about. Who is
she - the Emma from the rich family who stay at the resort, or
Saylor, the girl who helps her cousins clean the motel? And can she
overcome her anxiety especially about driving?
Dessen is one of my favourite authors. I love her characters and
even though she often explores complex family and personal
situations, she always leaves the reader hopeful of a good outcome
and better understandings as her characters grow and develop. Her
books are ones that fans will want to revisit and The rest of
the story is certainly one that would richly repay a reread.
Pat Pledger
Dream Riders : Frankie by Laura Bloom and Jesse Blackadder
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781760650513.
(Age: 10-12) Recommended. Themes: Horse-riding, family
relationships, friendship, bullying. Laura Bloom and Jesse
Blackadder's Dream Riders series focuses on an alternative
riding school the Pocket of Dreams, where riders learn to relate
with their horses in a more natural way. Each middle grade novel
explores the lives of a young teenager who is finding their own
identity, overcoming personal struggles, building relationships,
friendships and their horse-riding abilities.
Frankie's families have moved to Mullumbimby for a tree change, her
parents have separated and her Mum lives with new partner Vivian and
her daughter Elise. Dad isn't coping with the marriage breakdown and
Frankie is caught in the middle. She excited about Mum's promise of
her own horse, but the reality doesn't quite match Frankie's dreams.
Zen is a rather tubby pony with a windy problem. Frankie's first
encounters with the girls at the local riding school are difficult,
the elite riders are snobby, putting both Frankie and Zen down. She
must join the beginner's class and struggles with her
disappointments.
When Kai a close friend comes to stay with Mum and Vivian, Frankie's
unsure of his actions and their relationship goes through some ups
and downs. Life is tough on both the home front and in school where
Frankie is bullied by the snobby girls from the riding school.
When Frankie meets Shannon the owner of a unique equestrian centre,
she learns new techniques to connect to her pony Zen and begins to
understand herself better. As she creates and organises the Dream
Riders' club, Frankie's relationships change, and she comes to value
her family and new friends.
Laura Bloom and Jesse Blackadder's Frankie explores current
issues from family breakdowns, same sex couples, peer pressure,
addiction to technology and bullying. A great novel for readers from
ten who enjoy animal stories and teenage life with real and
relatable characters. Teacher's
notes for the series are available.
Rhyllis Bignell
